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. 2020 Oct;67(4):519-523.
doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.07.002. Epub 2020 Aug 11.

Association Between Youth Smoking, Electronic Cigarette Use, and COVID-19

Shivani Mathur Gaiha  1 , Jing Cheng  2 , Bonnie Halpern-Felsher  3
Affiliations

Association Between Youth Smoking, Electronic Cigarette Use, and COVID-19

Shivani Mathur Gaiha et al. J Adolesc Health. 2020 Oct.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to assess whether youth cigarette and electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use are associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms, testing, and diagnosis.

Methods: An online national survey of adolescents and young adults (n = 4,351) aged 13-24 years was conducted in May 2020. Multivariable logistic regression assessed relationships among COVID-19-related symptoms, testing, and diagnosis and cigarettes only, e-cigarettes only and dual use, sociodemographic factors, obesity, and complying with shelter-in-place.

Results: COVID-19 diagnosis was five times more likely among ever-users of e-cigarettes only (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.82-13.96), seven times more likely among ever-dual-users (95% CI: 1.98-24.55), and 6.8 times more likely among past 30-day dual-users (95% CI: 2.40-19.55). Testing was nine times more likely among past 30-day dual-users (95% CI: 5.43-15.47) and 2.6 times more likely among past 30-day e-cigarette only users (95% CI: 1.33-4.87). Symptoms were 4.7 times more likely among past 30-day dual-users (95% CI: 3.07-7.16).

Conclusions: COVID-19 is associated with youth use of e-cigarettes only and dual use of e-cigarettes and cigarettes, suggesting the need for screening and education.

Keywords: COVID; Communicable disease; Coronavirus; Electronic cigarette; Infectious disease; Lung; Pandemic; Smoking; Tobacco.

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Comment in

  • E-Cigarette Use and COVID-19: Questioning Data Reliability.
    Farsalinos K, Niaura R. Farsalinos K, et al. J Adolesc Health. 2021 Jan;68(1):213. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.09.012. J Adolesc Health. 2021. PMID: 33349352 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
  • In Response to "Association Between Youth Smoking, Electronic Cigarette Use, and COVID-19".
    Camacho OM, Murphy JJ. Camacho OM, et al. J Adolesc Health. 2021 Jan;68(1):214. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.10.002. J Adolesc Health. 2021. PMID: 33349353 No abstract available.
  • Gaiha et al. Disregarded Conventional Publishing Standards.
    Rodu B, Plurphanswat N. Rodu B, et al. J Adolesc Health. 2021 Jan;68(1):215. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.09.013. J Adolesc Health. 2021. PMID: 33349354 No abstract available.
  • Gaiha et al. Response.
    Rich JJ, Sussman RA. Rich JJ, et al. J Adolesc Health. 2021 Jan;68(1):215-216. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.09.014. J Adolesc Health. 2021. PMID: 33349355 No abstract available.
  • The Authors Respond.
    Halpern-Felsher B, Vallone D, Hair E, Ling P, Song AV, Bondy ML, Boykan R. Halpern-Felsher B, et al. J Adolesc Health. 2021 Jan;68(1):216-221. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.10.017. J Adolesc Health. 2021. PMID: 33349356 No abstract available.
  • The Editors Respond.
    Ford CA, Boyer CB, Gordon CM, Halpern CT, Ross DA. Ford CA, et al. J Adolesc Health. 2021 Jan;68(1):221-222. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.09.016. J Adolesc Health. 2021. PMID: 33349357 No abstract available.

References

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